Crain's Manchester Business

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Barrett Dixon Bell

Barrett Dixon Bell is an international, full-service, trade, technical and scientific marketing communications consultancy, set up more than 20 years ago. Its team of 24 staff plan and implement creative communications campaigns in many business-to-business sectors, from food and nutrition, cosmetics and packaging, to laboratory diagnostics and medical devices.

According to the firm, recruiting, training and retaining talented staff means that its clients benefit from a dedicated, multi-skilled, and multi-lingual team. One member of that team told Crain’s: “BDB is a happy and fun place but we all work extremely hard to obtain the best results. We are passionate about quality.”

Cuckoo Design

Manchester-based Cuckoo Design and Digital employs 15 staff in its city centre office. It describes itself as a new breed design and digital agency that has been in business for more than 20 years.

The firm was previously known as Walsh Simmons and rebranded this year when managing director Justine Wright took 100 per cent ownership of the company.

Sales director Steve Wheatley said: “We realise we’ve been shortlisted from comments by our staff, and we are thrilled to get positive feedback from our own people. Our plans are absolutely dependent on how well we keep and engage them.”

Digicomm BCS

Bolton-based Digicomm BCS was founded in 2001 by managing director Mark Pollitt.

He said its mission is to provide communication solutions for customers, providing them with telephones and IT products, services and support to enhance the productivity and performance of their business.

These include telephone systems, network services, video and audio conferencing, IT systems and infrastructure, and mobile solutions.

The business has recently moved offices, providing better facilities for its team of 10 staff. Digicomm said it recognises that business performance can be greatly enhanced by investing in the training and development of staff, and has gained the Investors in People accreditation.

Iris Manchester

Iris is a global, independent, integrated marketing agency working across all media and disciplines. It delivers creative work and integrated solutions across advertising, direct, digital, PR, retail, sponsorship, and management consultancy.

Founded in 1999, Iris has 13 offices in eight countries and over 650 employees worldwide. The Manchester office opened in 2003 and has a client roster that includes Adidas, Wonderbra and Liverpool Football Club.

The business says that its people are its most important asset — there’s a staff of 25 in Manchester — and it invests heavily in talent attraction and retention, offering a wide range of benefits from healthcare to sabbaticals. In the year to December 31, 2007, Iris declared a pre-tax loss of £57,133 on sales £1.15m.

Morris Hargreaves McIntyre

Morris Hargreaves McIntyre is a creative research consultancy. It specialises in helping organisations develop consumer focus and its clients include The Lowry, Red Letter Days, Bruntwood Estates Ltd, The British Museum, and The National Portrait Gallery.

The business employs 22 staff, including qualified statisticians, and says it is passionate about understanding consumers, getting to the heart of the issues that matter to organisations and making practical recommendations. In the year to September 30, 2007, it achieved a £210,253 profit on sales of more than £1.1m.

“I like the fact that it’s a small company which feels like a second family,” said one employee. “It’s very caring and paternal with the desire for everybody to do well.”

Peppermint PR

Peppermint PR in Altrincham doubled its staff in 2008 from five to 10, as well as doubling its clients from nine to 18.

It provides a full service offering online and digital media, including website design and development, interactive services, online marketing and search engine optimisation.

The team comprises former journalists, public sector specialists and PR stalwarts. The company rewards staff by awarding them ‘Pepp points’ if they go over and above their normal duties, which can be exchanged for items such as vouchers or manicures. Other perks include birthdays off and free style consultations with £100 to buy work clothes.

Total Excellence Centre

Established in 1992, Total Excellence Centre is an independent training and HR consultancy.

Based in Manchester and employing 10 staff, it offers training in management and leadership development, coaching and mentoring, and business skills, among many others — all of which are designed to deliver immediate, measurable results, it says.

The business provides monthly incentives worth at least £100 for staff that go the ‘extra mile’, voted for anonymously by their colleagues. There are also commission structures in place, even for non-sales staff, to recognise the contribution that each person makes.

Lakestarmedia

Lakestar Media is a fledgling digital marketing agency providing online marketing and web optimisation services to businesses throughout the UK. Services include search engine optimisation, paid search, affiliate marketing, display advertising and social media.

Formed in December 2007, the Manchester-based agency says it has created a fresh and lively working environment, based on mutual respect and common courtesy, where lateral thinking is positively encouraged.

Boasting an ethnically diverse and generation-spanning workforce of 14, Lakestar claims to offer opportunities to progress and develop rewarding careers. One new starter at the business told Crain’s: “They made me feel important and valued from day one.”

PHD North

HD North is a strategic media planning and buying agency working with and on behalf of clients including AG Barr, Northwest Development Agency and CrossCountry Trains.

Launched in Manchester city centre in 2003, the business employs 13 staff, as well as tapping into a range of expertise from across the PHD Group, its group buying arm Opera, and its ultimate parent company Omnicom, the world’s largest marketing services group.

The business says it inspires and rewards employees in a number of ways, ranging from free breakfast at work and a half day’s holiday or bottle of champagne on birthdays, to company away days and socials.

Reading Room

Reading Room is an independent digital communications and marketing agency. It opened in Manchester in April 2004 and has grown rapidly to a team of 25.

The business provides digital media strategies to clients from the North West, Wales and Scotland, including the YHA, Manchester City Galleries, Glasgow 2014, University of Leeds and Whizz Kiddz. In the year to March 31, 2008, it made a £12,000 profit on sales of more than £1.3m. One employee said: “Although new to the company I have already learned more skills than at any point over the last five years. The work is challenging but despite the tight deadlines, the atmosphere is chilled out and the staff here are friendly and easy-going.”

Triangle Architects Ltd

Triangle is a firm of chartered architects, founded in 1986 in Manchester. The bulk of the practice workload is based on public/private sector partnerships and includes social and private housing schemes, urban regeneration, and public realm and community-based schemes.

The business employs 12 staff, a third of whom earn over £35,000 a year. Its turnover in 2008 was £850,000.

Triangle is known for its expertise in thorough consultation, working with ‘non-professional’ clients and on unusual and innovative projects. It was recently awarded two honours at the Manchester Society of Architects awards for its work in partnership with the Great Places Housing Group.

Omni Resource Management Lts

Omni Resource Management Solutions is a recruitment outsourcer and recruitment improvement consultancy.

Established over 10 years ago, it helps clients to improve employee recruitment, retention and performance. In 2003, Omni was voted the UK’s 46th fastest-growing company in Virgin’s Fast Track 100 list.

Based in Altrincham, Omni is a privately-owned company employing 13 staff, mainly women. Employees are encouraged to carve their own niche within the business, develop new skills and gain qualifications.

One member of staff said of founding director Robert Leggett: “He treats all members of staff like family, wanting everyone to love working here... and everyone does.”